McDonald's to announce Chinese drive-through: report

Reuters - McDonald's plans to announce a deal on Tuesday with Sinopec (0386.HK), a large gasoline retailer in China, to build drive-throughs at filling stations across the country, The Wall Street Journal said.

Stocks fall on rate worries

Reuters - U.S. stocks fell sharply on Monday after yet another Federal Reserve official warned about inflation, renewing worries about higher prices and the outlook for interest rates.

China wind-power plant maker wants US IPO

Reuters - China's largest homegrown maker of wind-power generators, Goldwind Science and Technology Co. Ltd., is pursuing a U.S. listing to bankroll an expansion aimed at driving an eight-fold increase in sales to 4 billion yuan ($500 million) by 2008.

CarMax profit jumps 54 percent

Reuters - CarMax Inc. , the largest U.S. retailer of used cars, on Monday posted a better-than-expected 54 percent rise in quarterly earnings on increased sales and improved margins and said it expects full-year earnings at the high end of its previous forecast

Nokia Siemens deal means more deals are due: industry

Reuters - The deal follows Alcatel's April plan to acquire Lucent Technologies Inc. to create the world's top telecoms gear maker by annual sales, and comes years after Wall Street analysts have called for mergers in the crowed sector.

Immigrants Boost U.S. Economy, But Unclear If We're Better Off (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - The U.S. needs legal immigrants and guest workers to remain an economic leader, President Bush told audiences in Washington, D.C., and Omaha, Neb., last week.

Ask Mrs. Riches: Compulsive Spending (The Motley Fool)

The Motley Fool - Dear Mrs. Riches:I'm a 29-year-old single structural engineer who makes a decent salary. The trouble is that I can't seem to save money worth a darn. No matter how much money I make, it all seems to go out the window. A friend suggested going to a financial planner, but that idea sounds like a great big "ugh." I don't really want to hear the bad news, I guess. Any more palatable ways to learn about saving?-- Spending's Friend

Home builder sentiment drops sharply

U.S. home builder sentiment sank to its lowest in more than a decade in June as rising interest rates made homes less affordable and inhibited speculation.

The wimpiest cars of 2006

At the highest echelons of the auto industry, a power war rages on. Even as gas prices soar, manufacturers continue to up the ante, making engines bigger and putting more power under the hood.

Will Gates' exit turn out to be a lie?

Microsoft's chairman Bill Gates is stepping down as the company's software overlord and will abandon all day-to-day duties entirely in two years. But it's difficult to believe whether Gates will ever be able to let go when his company is losing in the market and is more vulnerable than ever before.

Nokia, Siemens to combine network-gear units

Nokia Corp. and Siemens AG said Monday they will combine their network equipment units in a reported $30 billion joint venture to more effectively take on market leader LM Ericsson.

Foreclosures may follow rise in ARM rates

As more ARMs adjust upward and housing prices begin to dip, many Americans can't refinance and are finding themselves trapped in too-high monthly payments. For those who can't make their payments, foreclosure is the only way out.

Nestle to buy Jenny Craig for $600 million

In a move that recognizes the modern world’s twin obsessions — indulgence and guilt — chocolate maker Nestle said Monday it would purchase weight loss product maker Jenny Craig Inc. for $600 million.

Wall Street slides in nervous trading

Wall Street pulled back sharply Monday, as a lack of economic news left investors hesitant to buy stocks ahead of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision next week.

Delta pilots won’t lose entire pension in deal

Delta Air Lines Inc.’s termination of its pilots’ pension plan will sting — no more lump sum payments — but won’t be a total loss for the 6,000 pilots at the nation’s third-largest carrier.

Gas prices fall for first time in 3 weeks

Retail gasoline prices fell for first time in three weeks, declining 3.5 cents over the last week to a national average of $2.87 a gallon, the government said on Monday.

IRS gives hurricane taxpayers extra time

Taxpayers still cleaning up from last summer's hurricanes got some extra time from the IRS on Monday with their tax deadlines and loss calculations.

Researchers working on alternative jet fuel

Government and corporate researchers are looking into ways to power commercial jet engines with alternative fuels, although many caution that widespread use could be years or even decades away.

Will you ever be able to retire?

The idea of retirement for many Americans used to include a public or private pension that guaranteed income for life. No longer. Today, the financial security of American workers is more uncertain than it has been in decades. By MSNBC.com's  John W. Schoen

Why women want sexier cars

The cliché that women favor reliable and practical cars like minivans is becoming something of an anachronism. Increasingly they are going against the grain to buy sports cars, trucks and SUVs. By MSNBC.com’s Roland Jones.